Macron proposal for new Iran deal welcomed

Emmanuel Macron's proposal for a new deal with Iran received a warm welcome from the UK, which said it was ready to work with allies to deal with issues like Tehran's ballistic missile programme and its regional ambitions.

During his state visit to Washington, the French president acknowledged a "disagreement" with Donald Trump over the 2015 deal to rein in Iran's nuclear weapons programme, which his US host has repeatedly threatened to tear up.

"I always said we should not tear apart the JCPOA and have nothing else," Mr Macron told a joint press conference. "I think this would not be a good solution.

"No matter the decision now that President Trump will take, I would like us to work as from now on a new deal with four pillars, including what is already covered by the JCPOA."

French President Emmanuel Macron to Congress: "We can choose isolationism, withdrawal and nationalism...it can be tempting to us as a temporary remedy to our fears. But closing the door to the world will not stop the evolution of the world." pic.twitter.com/YPnyMThMkY

"Our priority is preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. The nuclear deal was the product of 13 years of diplomacy and is working, Iran having reduced its stock of enriched uranium by 95%.

"At the same time, we recognise that there things that the deal does not cover, but which we need to address, including ballistic missiles, what happens when the deal expires and Iran's destabilising regional activity.

"We are working closely with our allies on how to address the range of challenges Iran poses in the Middle East, including those issues which President Macron proposed a new deal might cover."